The Magicians (The Magicians, #1) in WACKY READING CHALLENGES

Oct 04, 2015 *Dawn rated it liked it

Even though this is clearly a rip-off of the ideas of Harry Potter and the Chronicles of Narnia (as well as Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, etc.), it is forgiven because those books were paid homage several times within this story itself, so it's not like the author thought he was going to be duping anybody. Instead, he created a similar world but amped it up a bit for the benefit of more mature readers. This is more real-life, more depressing, more angsty. There is some strong language, Even though this is clearly a rip-off of the ideas of Harry Potter and the Chronicles of Narnia (as well as Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, etc.), it is forgiven because those books were paid homage several times within this story itself, so it's not like the author thought he was going to be duping anybody. Instead, he created a similar world but amped it up a bit for the benefit of more mature readers. This is more real-life, more depressing, more angsty. There is some strong language, sex and drug usage (not overdone but fair warning so you don't pass this on to younger readers). There are not any clearly defined lessons learned or a moral to the story to be taken away to lift the spirit. It is an adventure story but not necessarily with the heroes you imagined it would have. There is bravery, but there is also cowardice. There is generosity, but there is also selfishness. There are opportunities for lessons to be learned, but not always taken to heart.

This didn't play out or end up as satisfying as I thought it would which should have disappointed me in some way, but I was sucked into the story and found it enjoyable enough that I think I'll hang onto this one and maybe read it again down the road. I'll definitely track down the sequel, [The Magician King]. Maybe that will tie everything together in a way that this first one did not.

Summary: Quentin Coldwater is a high school math genius who is unhappy with his mundane existence. He is still waiting for his adventure to happen. He often finds himself thinking of a series of children's books he first read when he was 9 years old and has read many times since. He wishes for all the adventures and magic of the fictional land of Fillory. He's looking for his purpose in life.

The start of Quentin's personal adventure arrives suddenly when he is invited to attend a school for magicians which is unknown to and hidden from regular humans (entrance is only through magical portals). This book follows his four years of schooling (with a small group of friends made there) and subsequent quest undertaken in the "real" Fillory, which is a much darker and more dangerous place than the version in the storybooks. ...more

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Apr 03, 2014 Karen rated it liked it

I'm not sure what to think about this book. Putting aside all of the comparisons to Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia, it was a good story on its own but I don't really think that Grossman achieved what he set out to do which, according to the flyleaf, was to demonstrate how real magicians survive in the real world, thereby differentiating it from the two previously named series. Although he made the case of Alice's parents and presented the "hedonistic" lifestyle they all led in Manhatt I'm not sure what to think about this book. Putting aside all of the comparisons to Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia, it was a good story on its own but I don't really think that Grossman achieved what he set out to do which, according to the flyleaf, was to demonstrate how real magicians survive in the real world, thereby differentiating it from the two previously named series. Although he made the case of Alice's parents and presented the "hedonistic" lifestyle they all led in Manhattan following graduation when they really had no motivation to actually do something with their lives, the focus was mostly on school and the adventures in Fillory. He tried again at the end when Quentin gave up magic altogether, became a hermit socially, and a totally ineffective business man, but when all was said and done I really felt like the entire book was just a set-up for the books to follow which I really have no interest in reading.

Quentin was impossible to like and was just irritating from the get-go - I'd had enough of the ennui by mid-book. Grossman never seemed to figure him out - heroic one minute, an absolute coward the next, angry or bored, perceptive one minute, clueless the next, the leader or not the leader - one just never knew who he was. I know that I, and many people I know and love, disliked - was it the fourth book in the Harry Potter series because Harry became such a whiny, self-centered adolescent; too bad Grossman chose to model Quentin after those traits. And was Alice a mouse or the strongest character in the book? How many times did she show up or save Quentin and yet he is still telling her not to be a mouse in the penultimate chapter. The monsters in the tomb were seemingly just thrown in as special effects - there was no development there either. Where did the red fire giant come from and why was the focus on his private parts? Why the banquet set-up? Lots of loose ends. It was between 2 and 3 stars for me - I'll give it the benefit of the doubt since I won't be reading the rest of the series.

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Dec 19, 2022 Evil Secret Ninja rated it liked it

Shelves: 2022-reading-challenge

This is like a grown up retelling of the Narnia novels. First off it was interesting a kid obsessed with books about travel to another world then he finds out he can do magic and finds a portal to said world. There were many similar themes as Narnia and I wonder if some of it had to do with making jabs at the Christian themes in the books. It was okay and I enjoyed it I just didn't find it overwhelmingly wonderful. There were times it really dragged and it made magic sound like it was boring to ...more

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